It has come to my attention that you continue to use your "Open Letter" to
misinform various people and groups within the University and the community.
Because of the numerous mistakes and factual errors in your document, I
wanted to provide a more accurate and credible picture of the University
of Pittsburgh's relationship with our neighbors, especially since your
version of that relationship is so much at odds with the view of other
neighborhood groups and city officials. It has been my experience that
the modern history of the University of Pittsburgh, particularly during
the tenure of Chancellor Mark Nordenberg, has been characterized by strong
and expanded levels of engagement, interaction, and support with our neighboring
communities. In fact, the University meets on a regular schedule with Oakland
community groups, including Oakland Planning and Development Corporation
(OPDC), Oakland Business Improvement District (OBID), Oakland Transportation
Management Association (OTMA), Community Human Services (CHS), and Peoples
Oakland. The University is a regular participant at community group meetings,
including the Central Oakland Community Organization, Coalition of Oakland
Residents, Oakcliffe Housing Club, Bellefield Area Citizens Association,
Oak Hill Residents Council, and a number of other organizations.

As community group leaders, Oakland residents, neighboring institutions,
City of Pittsburgh officials and elected representatives regularly attest,
the University has placed a strong emphasis on community consultation,
engaging in extensive briefings, dialogue, and discussion regarding community
and individual residents' concerns, University master plans and individual
construction projects. In fact, the UniverSity's public engagement efforts
in the context of its campus master plan and construction of individual
projects exceed the legal requirements imposed by the City. And, our initiatives
in regard to being a good neighbor have been cited as examples for other
institutions to follow.

University representatives have met with you on a number of occasions
to discuss these issues and to provide you with factual information, which
you seem to have ignored in your recent letter. Coupled with our efforts
to correct your misapprehensions is the fact that we have had no indication
from elected officials or other Oakland community groups that have been
contacted by you that they share your opinions or methods. Quite to the
contrary, those groups choose to engage in the constructive interaction
and dialogue that the University has fostered under the leadership of Chancellor
Nordenberg. One example comes from Sandra Phillips, Executive Director of
Peoples Oakland, who has confirmed that the relationship between the University
and the Oakland community "has deepened over the years and continues
to provide a community building model based on cooperative, effective,
and inspiring teamwork. We thank the University of Pittsburgh for ongoing
leadership and commitment to the strength and viability of the Oakland
community." Peoples Oakland is not alone in its opinion of Pitt's
contributions to the community. Adrienne Walnoha, CEO of Community Human
Services, attests to the fact that CHS has had a long and mutually beneficial
partnership with the University of Pittsburgh. In fact, she has noted that
after attending a variety of national conferences, she has not"found
another city that has a community-based food pantry completely supported
by the university." She further notes that her colleagues are"consistently
astounded that a university would be in the lead of that type of a grassroots
project." Mavis Rainey, Executive Director of OTMA also echoed these
sentiments: "The collaboration with the University of Pittsburgh has
benefited not only OTMA but the Oakland community as a whole. It demonstrates
the University's commitment to not only exist in Oakland but to be completely
engaged in what happens in Oakland. One example is the Home Town Streets/Safe
Routes to School Pedestrian Improvement Project. Not only did the University
provide donated project management services throughout the three-year project,
the University of Pittsburgh was a major contributor toward the funding
of the project as well. Pitt continues to take a leadership role in working
with the many community groups in Oakland to address the issues or concerns
that go beyond just impacting their students, faculty, and staff. They
recognize that whatever is done in Oakland impacts businesses, property
owners, residents, and they embrace the opportunity to continue to work
together as a community."

Simply put, Pitt's ongoing commitment to the betterment of the Oakland
community is being recognized nationally as a model of the best in town/gown
relations.

In regard to student housing, here again the University has been responsive
to the input received from its surrounding community. For example, the
single highest priority expressed by Oakland neighborhood groups and by
City government in the rnid-1990s was for the University to increase the
amount of on-campus student housing. The University has responded directly
to that expressed need by increasing the number of on-campus student housing
spaces from about 5,300 beds in 1995 to about 8,000 today. At the same
time, the University has remained sensitive to the community's desire that
we not encroach on existing residential areas. The vast majority of University
construction within the past 20 years has taken place on the existing footprint
of Pitt's campus or outside of Oakland. Examples of new construction within
the University's existing footprint include: Biomedical Science Tower 3
(BST3), Nordenberg Hall, Salk Hall addition, Graduate School of Public
Health addition, Chevron Science building addition, and Benedum Hall addition.
The demolition of Pitt Stadium created space within the existing campus
footprint for the Petersen Events Center and the Pennsylvania and Panther
residence halls. University projects in Oakland's business district, such
as Sennott Square, Forbes and Bouquet green space, and the creation of
the Oakland Business Improvement District (which the University championed)
have helped revitalize this critical commercial area. At the same time,
much development of University facilities has taken place outside of the
Oakland area, including the Technology Center on Second Avenue, the Duratz
Sports Complex and McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine on the South
Side, the Center for Assistive Technologies in Bakery Square, the Pediatric
Research Institute in Lawrenceville, and the Hillman Cancer Center in Shadyside.
These projects have been essential to the City's most recent renaissance
and have been enthusiastically supported by each of the neighborhoods in
which they are located.

University expansion into the adjacent neighborhoods has been extremely
limited in the past 20 years, and only when necessary to expand student
housing (Bouquet Gardens) in a manner and location that was discussed with
and supported by the community. The University engaged in an extensive
discussion process with community groups and residents regarding the location
for Bouquet Gardens, much of which was built on property already owned
by the University (previously used for parking). Moreover, the University
has faithfully adhered to, and in fact exceeded, the community consultation
requirements and expectations set forth in the City Code. The University
has also fulfilled the master planning requirements as set forth in the
City of Pittsburgh's Zoning Code. After that consultation process, the
University's Institutional Master Plan was unanimously approved by City
Council. That Master Plan included the identification of the location of
Nordenberg Hall as an area that would be developed for student residential
use in the future. See Section E.2 of Pitt's April 7, 2008 approved Institutional
Master Plan Update, which identified the site (then being used as a parking
lot and a small, obsolete University-owned office building) as a potential
location for a 10-story residential building. The University consulted
with all alfected community groups regarding the project. In fact, Oakland
area organizations were extremely supportive and complimentary of the design
and development of Nordenberg Hall. In particular, residents have praised
the inclusion of ground-level retail space, which also has allowed for
the return of a retail bakery to Oakland in a University building across
Fifth Avenue.

You also seem to be mistaken regarding the University leased office space
in the Park Plaza Condominiums, which was done in 2009, only alter the
owners of the property had previously announced their plans to close their
restaurant and sell or lease the property. Moreover, the University's lease
at Park Place provides for monthly rent of approximately $40,000 per month,
not the $492,678 amount you stated. Your reference to eminent domain also
is misleading. Eminent domain has never been used by the University under
ChanceIlor Nordenberg's leadership. In fact, as best can be determined,
the last use of eminent domain involved the land now occupied by the Sennott
Square office building that had been acquired by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
through eminent domain about 40 years ago.

In addition to including community concerns in our planning, the University
provides extensive financial support to Oakland area organizations and
initiatives, both through direct contributions and in-kind services. The
University's Community Leisure Learn Program provides access for community
residents to Pitt athletic and fitness facilities, with the UniverSity
paying the program's annual costs of more than $120,000. The University
provides over $115,000 annually to the Oakland Business Improvement District,
including $59,000 as an annual voluntary contribution and also provides
financial support for Oakland Planning and Development's Keep It Clean
Oakland initiative. A regular supporter of many other varied initiatives
in the Oakland area, Pitt was one of the leading organizers and funders
of the reconstruction of Schenley Plaza, a remarkable transformation that
created an iconic community gathering place benefitting all of Oakland.
The UniverSity provided $250,000 in matching funds as weIl as in-kind services
for the Hometown Streets Project that upgraded intersections and improved
pedestrian safety and access in the Forbes/Fifth Avenue corridor in Oakland
and has contributed extensively to upgrading municipal infrastructure in
the Oakland area, including $385,000 to upgrade a publiC waterline on Bigelow
Boulevard and replace and upgrade traffic signals along Bigelow Boulevard.

In addition, the University provides annual financial support to OTMA
and has provided financial support for OPDCs Oakland Dumpster Project.
The University recently completed reconstruction and upgrade of sidewalks,
protective railings, and traffic signals along Fifth Avenue at a cost of
over $800,000. And the University has been a long-term partner in the Oak
HilI mixed-income redevelopment (as weIl as in the Allequippa Terrace public
housing that preceded Oak Hill) through its Community Leisure Learn Program,
Mathilda Theiss Health Center, employment assistance and educational counseling
programs, to name just a few. The UniverSity, at the community's behest,
located the Department of Health & Physical Activity of our School
of Education as the prime tenant in Oak HilI's Town Center. And the UniverSity
also leases 3,000 sq. ft. in the Town Center that is donated to the Oak
Hill Resident Council for community use (at a cost to Pitt of $56,000 annuaIly).

Just the handful of illustrative examples above of projects and programs
undertaken by Pitt over the past ten years represent an investment of over
$4.1 million in Oakland by the University, not the $23,000 annually as
you have noted.

The list of in-kind contributions by the University is simply too long
to set forth here. Whether it is the Oakland Food Pantry, community organization
events, on-going access to University facilities or the extensive engagement
of the University of Pittsburgh's students as interns, volunteers and staff
throughout Oakland's community-based organizations, the University is a
ubiquitous participant in community life. The University has worked in
a collaborative manner to address the impacts that come from the fact that
Oakland is a magnet for students from around the City of Pittsburgh. Pitt's
annual financial support for OPDC's Keep It Clean Oakland Program and dumpster
project (which mobilizes at move-in time) has helped to reduce litter.
The Keep It Clean Oakland Program utilizes University of Pittsburgh students
to staff its 34 different Oakland adopt-a-block commitments. The University's
voluntary and tax support for the formation and ongoing operation of the
OBID has helped to transform the busiest part of Oakland into a clean and
vibrant district that serves residents and the University community. And
of course, the University of Pittsburgh Police supplements the work of
the Pittsburgh Police and provides protection and police services in the
neighborhoods surrounding the University. The University has also been
recognized for its efforts to educate students and lessen irresponsible
behavior by creating programs for its students to provide alternatives
to excessive alcohol consumption. The University has also worked hard to
educate its students about responsible behavior in the neighborhoods in
which they live, recently publishing and distributing a Student Guide to
Campus Life that has been exceedingly well received by members of the community
and students. In fact, the Guide is being used as a template for similar
publications at colleges and universities throughout the country. The University
has been a leading participant in the Pittsburgh Sociable City effort that
has been lauded by Oakland community groups and the City of Pittsburgh
as an effective collaborative effort to address impacts of nightlife around
the City. In regard to one specific event which you mention, the UniverSity
responded to the inappropriate activities at Semple Fest by collaborating
with City and Pitt Police to end that annual event. To be clear, it was
the direct action and efforts of the University and its partners that put
a stop to Semple Fest.

Through its monthly meetings with Oakland-area community groups and its
attendance at community group meetings, Pitt provides regular updates to
the community regarding its plans and engages in an ongoing dialogue about
issues that may arise within the community related to the University. With
regard to information sharing and disclosure, the University provides extensive
information regarding its finances and operations. In compliance with Pennsylvania
law, the University annually submits and publishes a Financial Disclosure
Report as well as a salary and workload report (known as the "Snyder
Report"). In addition to its annual audited financial statements,
the University annually makes its IRS Form 990 public. These are just a
small sampling of the reporting and disclosure activities of the University.

The University has successfully cultivated an open, responsive, and productive
relationship with Oakland-area neighborhood associations and community
groups. The University has established procedures with those organizations
for following up on concerns raised regarding student behavior or other
issues. Community groups and residents know that they can either contact
the University of Pittsburgh Police or the University's Office of Community
and Governmental Relations with specific concerns. The University has also
a means for anonymously reporting concerns in order to encourage those
types of reports.

With the approach of Homecoming, I did want to correct your statements
regarding the University's Homecoming week fireworks display, which is
a long-standing tradition that is enjoyed by many beyond Pitt students,
faculty and staff. In fact, the University invites residents to the event
and for many years, community members have enjoyed the Homecoming fireworks
display. The University complies with all applicable permitting requirements
for the fireworks display and in fact goes beyond those requirements in
planning and carrying out the fireworks. For example, the University pays
for an extra fire truck beyond what is required in order to provide an
added measure of safety and peace of mind. Several years ago, when you
raised the concern that you did not believe that residents were aware of
the planned homecoming fireworks, the University responded appropriately
by distributing notices throughout the neighborhood inviting community
members to join us for the homecoming festivities, and letting them know
the time and length of the fireworks display.

In summary, the University is proud of its record and its continuing commitment
to being an engaged and supportive partner. The University's efforts in
this regard have benefitted the Oakland community and we have been recognized
by a number of outside organizations and individuals as well as elected
officials and community groups throughout the region. We remain committed
to working together with all those residents of Oakland who share its commitment
to making the community the best it can be for all. For reasons known only
to you, you have chosen to frequently promulgate inaccurate and false statements
regarding the University. Your actions in this regard are detrimental to
efforts, on the part of both the University and the community, to work
towards making Oakland the best community it can be for all residents.
For that reason, I ask, on behalf of the University, that you refrain from
continuing this injurious behavior.